Crocosmia plant named ‘Fire Starter’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Crocosmia plant named ‘Fire Starter’, characterized by its upright plant habit; strong, sturdy and resistance to lodging; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely flowering habit; numerous and relatively large and upward-facing yellow, yellow orange and orange red-colored flowers; and good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Botanical designation: Crocosmia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIRE STARTER’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCrocosmia plant, also referred to as Montbretia, botanically known asCrocosmia X hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘FireStarter’.

The new Crocosmia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Carisbrook, Newport, The Isle of Wight,United Kingdom. The objective of the breeding program is to create newupright and strong Crocosmia plants with large attractive upward-facingflowers, a long flowering period and winter hardiness.

The new Crocosmia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Carisbrook, Newport, The Isle of Wight, United Kingdom onJul. 10, 2007 of two unnamed seedling selections of Crocosmia X hybrida,not patented. The new Crocosmia plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inCarisbrook, Newport, The Isle of Wight, United Kingdom on Aug. 14, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Crocosmia plant by divisions in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Carisbrook, Newport, The Isle ofWight, United Kingdom since the spring of 2010 has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Crocosmia plant are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Crocosmia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural conditions. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fire Starter’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Fire Starter’ as a new and distinctCrocosmia plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; strong, sturdy and resistance to        lodging.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Numerous and relatively large and upward-facing yellow,        yellow-orange and orange red-colored flowers.    -   5. Good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Plants of the new Crocosmia differ primarily from plants of the parentselections in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Crocosmia are more freely flowering than        plants of the parent selections.    -   2. Plants of the new Crocosmia have larger flowers than plants        of the parent selections.    -   3. Plants of the new Crocosmia are more winter hardy than plants        of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Crocosmia can be compared to plants of Crocosmia Xcrocosmiiflora ‘Babylon’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the. new Crocosmia differ primarily from plants of ‘Babylon’in flower color as plants of the new Crocosmia have yellow, yelloworange and orange red-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘Babylon’ haveorange red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Crocosmia plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Crocosmia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering plants of ‘Fire Starter’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typicalinflorescences of ‘Fire Starter’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants of the new Crocosmia grown during thesummer in an outdoor nursery in Hillegom, The Netherlands. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 30° C.and night temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 20° C. Plants were one yearold when the photographs and the description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Crocosmia X hybrida ‘Fire Starter’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of            Crocosmia X hybrida, not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of            Crocosmia X hybrida, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at temperatures about            20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About seven weeks at            temperatures ranging from 15° to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy and fibrous;            brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Low branching; medium density.        -   Corms.—To date, corm development has not been observed on            plants of the new Crocosmia.-   Overall plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit; overall plant            shape, narrowly oblong with slightly arching flowering            stems; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; strong            stems that develop at the plant base and resist lodging;            moderate to rapid growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 105            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 108            cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 24.3 cm.-   Stem description:    -   -   Aspect.—Mostly upright.        -   Length.—About 66.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5.5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 19 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous, waxy; slightly glossy.        -   Color, when developing.—Close to 146D tinged with close to            N199A.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 200C; under surface tinged with            close to 146B; waxy cuticle, close to 198B to 198C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Appearance.—Simple, distichous; sessile.        -   Quantity per stem.—About seven.        -   Length.—About 54.9 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Ensiform, moderately plicate.        -   Apex.—Narrowly acuminate.        -   Base.—Sheathing; sheath is about 36.8 cm in length, 9 mm in            width and close to 143B in color.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Camptodrome.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            137A. Fully expanded leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to 137A and 137B; venation, close to 138A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single tubular flowers arranged on            terminal rhipidiums; flowers sessile; flowers face mostly            outwardly and upward-facing; perianth segments fused; freely            flowering habit with about 75 flowers developing per            inflorescence.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous in July and            August in The Netherlands; plants begin flowering about six            months after planting.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not            persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Shape: Narrowly obovate, slightly curved downward. Texture            and luster: Smooth, glabrous, moderately velvety; matte.            Color: Close to 34A; towards the mid-section, close to            between N34A and 185A; towards the base, close to 153B to            153C; immature sepals, upper surface, close to 187A;            immature sepals, lower surface, close to 187A slightly            tinged with close to 147D.        -   Inflorescence length.—About 31 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 20.2 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.1 cm by 4.4 cm.        -   Flower length.—About 4.9 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—About 7.5 mm to 9 mm.        -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each            whorl with three segments fused towards the base; inner            whorl of perianth segments has a larger dorsal segment and            two smaller lateral segments that are similar to outer whorl            segments. Inner perianth dorsal segment: Length: About            4.9 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Obovate; proximally, 55%            of the length of the segment is fused into a tube. Apex:            Narrowly obtuse to broadly and bluntly acute. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous, moderately velvety; matte. Color, when            opening, upper surface: Close to 14A; towards the apex,            margins and central band, close to N30A. Color, when            opening, lower surface: Close to 17B; towards the margins,            close to N30A. Color, fully opening, upper surface: Close to            13A; towards the apex and margins, close to N30A; central            band, close to N30B; venation, close to 25A and towards the            margins, close to N30A; color does not change with            development. Color, fully opening, lower surface: Close to            13A; towards the apex and margins, close to N30A; central            band, close to N30B; venation, close to 25A; color does not            change with development. Inner perianth lateral segments and            outer perianth segments: Length: About 4.4 cm. Width, inner            lateral segments: About 9 mm. Width, outer segments: About            7 mm. Shape: Obovate; proximally, 55% of the length of the            segment is fused into a tube. Apex: Narrowly obtuse to            broadly and bluntly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous,            moderately velvety; matte. Color, when opening, upper            surface: Close to 14A; towards the apex, margins and central            band, close to N30A. Color, when opening, lower surface:            Close to 17B; towards the margins, close to N30A. Color,            fully opening, upper surface: Close to 14A; towards the apex            and margins, close to N30B; central band, close to N30A;            venation, close to 25A and towards the margins, close to            N30A; color does not change with development. Color, fully            opening, lower surface: Close to 14A; towards the apex and            margins, close to N30B; central band, close to N30A;            venation, close to 25A; color does not change with            development. Flower throat and tube: Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous, moderately velvety; matte. Color, throat:            Close to 42A; venation, close to 42A. Color, tube: Close to            42B; venation, close to 42B.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Three in a single whorl. Length: About            8 mm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Broadly oblong. Apex:            Praemorse. Base: Broadly cuneate, fused. Margin: Entire.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color, when opening, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 178A; towards the base, close to 146B.            Color, fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            178A; towards the base, close to 146B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 30.2 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Angle, primary peduncles: Proximally,            erect; distally, arching to about 80° from vertical. Angle,            lateral peduncles: About 45° from primary peduncle axis.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous, waxy; matte. Color, upper            surface: Close to 200B; waxy cuticle, close to 198B to 198C.            Color, lower surface: Close to 148A; waxy cuticle, close to            198B to 198C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            three. Filament length: About 2.5 cm. Filament color: Close            to 14A to 14B. Anther shape: Narrowly sagittate. Anther            size: About 9 mm by 1.25 mm. Anther color: Close to 22A.            Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 15D. Pistils:            Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 4.4 cm. Style            length: About 3.9 cm. Style color: Close to 15A; distally,            close to 30A. Stigma shape: Three-parted, curved. Stigma            size: About 5 mm by 6 mm. Stigma color: Close to 20A. Ovary            color: Close to 144A.        -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed development have            not been observed on plants of the new Crocosmia.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Crocosmia    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common    to Crocosmia plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Crocosmia have been observed    to have good garden performance, to resist lodging and to tolerate    wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about −17° C. to about 35°    C.; plants of the new Crocosmia are suitable for USDA Hardiness    Zones 6 to 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Crocosmia plant named ‘FireStarter’ as illustrated and described.